Address: 33210 Bommes

Telephone: +33 (0)5 56 76 60 54

E-mail: chateaulafaurie@wanadoo.fr

Website: www.lafaurie-peyraguey.com

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey is a brilliant Premier Cru Classé in Bommes that makes delicious Sauternes. It was presumably a favourite sweet wine of the famous English writer Evelyn Waugh, as it was the picnic tipple of choice for Sebastian Flyte, the flawed character Waugh created in his masterpiece novel Brideshead Revisited. The 2009, 2010 and 2013 are all terrific here.

Vineyard/Terrior: 41 hectares on gravel, clay and a clay-sand mix planted with 90% Semillon, 8% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle.

Winemaking/Elevage: Ages in barrels, 30% new, for between 18 to 20 months.

Tasting notes:

• 2013 Pale gold; full botrytis notes; cream; peaches and melon tones; attractive palate really full but with nice tension; elegant finish with some zap and style. Very good effort. [92% Sémillon, 6% Sauvignon Blanc, 1% Muscadelle]. Tasted 1/4/14 UGCB. Drink from 2018-2030. 91-93+
• 2012 Pale green/gold; peachy; some cream; little grapefruit and citrus tones; some lees; quite broad; palate quite full but not that sweet. Elegant style. 93% Sémillon, 6% Sauvignon Blanc, 1% Muscadelle. UGC April 11, 2013. 87-89
• 2010 Pale gold/straw; fresh, apples, some wet wool; lots of flavour on the palate; ripeness; full yet elegant with nice balance. Feels very nicely balanced. Tasted Oct ’12 at UGCB. 93+ [Earlier note] Pale green/gold; clean and attractive, quite fresh and some grass here; palate elegant but with intensity and concentration; sweetness; really very good. 91-93/100 Tasted 5 April 2011 UGCB
• 2009 Light gold; lemon and fresh again; mid-weight, some butter, honey; quite high alcohol but good balancing acid. Quite sweet. Quite fat with very good length. 92+/100
• 2008 Mid gold; some resin, some grassy characters; some lanolin too; more sweetness here; candy on the palate. Tasted Nov ’12 at MW Institute. 88+
• 2007 Pale straw; oily and thick nose; fat and thick on the palate; feels surprisingly big and fat – maybe lacks a bit of zip and focus. Tasted Nov ‘11 at MW Institute. 89/100